Percentage of People Who Dislike Their Jobs

by Beth Greenwood

A majority of Americans dislike their jobs.

People dislike jobs for a variety of reasons: some of them are boredom, burnout, low salary, high workload, poor relationships with coworkers and toxic bosses. If you sometimes feel like the three women in the hit movie “9 to 5,” you are not alone. More and more Americans hate their jobs, and the figures reported in various surveys have been increasing steadily since 2005. Despite the poor economy, 2.2 million people voluntarily quit jobs in July 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an increase of 1.8 million since July 2009.

A Look at the Past

On May 5, 2005, the “Wall Street Journal” reported that 41 percent of employees were unhappy in their jobs. People in small companies were more likely to be happy at work than those in large companies. Younger workers were the most likely to be unhappy; only 37 percent were proud of their work and careers. Burnout was also more likely in the younger set. Almost half – 47 percent – of workers ages 18 to 24 reported feeling burned out.

Location and Age Matter

In 2007, “Market Watch” reported dissatisfaction at 53 percent of workers. The youngsters in the workforce were still the most discontented, as were those making very low wages – less than $15,000 a year. The Middle Atlantic states were also a focus of discontent, while people who lived in the Mountain states were the happiest. Money was a big factor in this survey, with only 36 percent of employees happy with their wages and only 21 percent happy with their employer’s bonus plan.

Downward Trend

The Business Insider website reported in an Oct. 4, 2010, article that 80 percent of those surveyed were dissatisfied with their jobs. The article confirmed a report by “U.S. News Money” from July 8, 2009, which also found 80 percent of employees unhappy at work. On the bright side, Business Insider noted that people seemed to be turning to entrepreneurship, hoping that following a passion would lead to better things in the future.

Today's Picture

In 2012, CBS News reported that 84 percent of employees were looking for new jobs. Again, the youngest workers were those most ready to jump ship. With so many people in the same boat, competition for jobs is likely to be fierce. If the economy improves, businesses may see record turnover. In the meantime, if you hate your job and misery loves company, there’s plenty of company out there for you.

About the Author

Beth Greenwood is an RN and has been a writer since 2010. She specializes in medical and health topics, as well as career articles about health care professions. Greenwood holds an Associate of Science in nursing from Shasta College.